The statement gives the impression of extreme feminism, doesn't it?
But no. Not really, granting that a very feisty and influential woman authored this book — with this very intriguing title — launched in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2023.
As I happened to be in California at that time, I bought a copy for $28. (It's about P1,600 in local bookstores and online.) Too bad I was a day late for the Pasadena book signing. At that time, the author has moved to San Francisco for the aggressive Book Campaign Trail.
Loida Nicolas Lewis' book, co-authored with Blain S. Walker, is all about business, leadership, and love.
Ms. Lewis, of Filipino descent, is the widow of multi-billionaire Reginald Lewis who was considered as one of the richest African-American businessman in the 80s. A corporate lawyer, a Wall Street wiz, and a philanthropist, passed away in his prime in 1993. He was only 50.
A very devoted wife and life partner, Loida went into deep depression with the very untimely passing of her husband. A passion-driven woman, the loss turned into motivation and she took over the family and the empire.
Brown and Black
The young Loida Nicolas loved the shorelines of hometown Sorsogon and fresh marine catch. Being a very diligent and intelligent girl, who developed good public relations, her father thought Loida would make a great politician. But she had her eyes in wearing a nun's habit and stay single all her life.
Indeed, fate has other plans for Loida.
She graduated in her law degree with Latin honors from the University of the Philippines and went abroad. When she took the New York bar, Loida become the first Filipino woman to pass it and pursued as an immigration counsel.
This was until Reginald F. Lewis came into the picture as her blind date in 1969.
In their first date, the Bicolana ordered an expensive lobster and consumed it to the shells.
The heart of the 27-year-old brown Bicolana fell for the appealing, gracious black American gentleman.
With A Heart Of A Leader
The book's denouement revolves around the that not only men can enjoy life doing extraordinary things and be successful at that.
When Reginald passed on, on her own, Loida raised their two beautiful girls while managing Beatrice Foods, an international conglomerate.
Loida is an ultimate model for a CEO with a heart. Her ways outmoded all management stratagems.
This Asian-American's exceptional leadership is apparent in running the business empire in her very unique style that brought its coffers to record gains. She was not just focused on being "A Crazy Rich Asian."
Loida's leadership and activism continue to extend to her pay-it-forward advocacies for women's rights and development worldwide. Among other international groups she led, Loida look back to her kababayans in Sorsogon and established the Lewis College there.
Surviving In A Man's World
A resident of the posh Manhattan row and of the luxuriant Paris, the world's fashion capital, her Filipina ways manifest in whatever she does.
Her widowed journey was not without challenges and impediments.
Asian-American Loida, now 82, persists in boldly facing the basically and dominantly "man's world," Wall Street.
Why do these predominantly white men have to enjoy all — almost all — the fiduciary favors of the industry?
(email opinyon.luchie@gmail.com, luchiearguelles@yahoo.com)
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